Weird rule affects Saints-Lions game, not cited during AFC Championship

A strange rule impacting possession was revealed after the Week 1 game between the Saints and Lions. The rule had not been applied in years and was overlooked during a similar play in the AFC Championship. The Broncos faced a controversial ruling when a backward pass by quarterback Jarrett Stidham was deemed a forward pass due to contact by Patriots linebacker Christian Ellis. Referee Alex Kemp stated that the situation involved miscommunication about the ruling, which resulted in the Patriots losing a potential touchdown. The discussion surrounding this rule highlights a lack of awareness among teams and officials alike, leading to confusion in high-stakes games.

• 1:38 PMYahoo Sports — Weird rule from Saints-Lions wasn't mentioned during AFC Championship